BY KAREN BOSSICK

Celebrate the unveiling of the second Cover Art gondola car project on Friday.

The City of Ketchum Arts Commission and Sun Valley Resort will unveil the car at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, at the base of the Roundhouse Express at River Run on Baldy.

The Mandala Gondola, created by Boise artist Rachel Teannalach, features flowers, the diamond burst from Sun Valley’s total solar eclipse and more.

The project was completed with support from the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

The project was sponsored by Sue and Earl Cohen and Trish and Dave Wilson in celebration of the life of Joe Bauwens, who brightened the community with his fine art photographs of backcountry scenes around Sun Valley as well as photographs of Ireland and Italy.

Bauwen’s wife Marybeth Flower, who spent five years on the Ketchum Arts Commission, will join the Cohens and Wilson during the ceremony.

“It’s exciting to see the Arts Commission continue to deliver such high-level projects in their tenth year of Operation,” said Mayor Nina Jonas. “The City of Ketchum is grateful for their efforts and for the efforts of donors like the Cohens and the Wilsons—and what a wonderful tribute to Joe Bauwens.”

Courtney Gilbert, who heads up the Ketchum Arts Commission said many people shepherded the project, including Adam Elias and Trina Peters, both of whom are involved with the commission.

“The artist can’t be at the ribbon cutting because she is opening a new exhibition in Boise, but we will have everyone else,” she said.

The Ketchum Arts Commission is already working on plans for a third gondola car Cover Art project for 2018.